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Organizational Overview

VISION: We are a community that strengthens families and nurtures the learning potential of every child.

MISSION: The Early Learning Coalition will integrate leadership and community resources to promote high quality early education and family support.

PURPOSE: The Early Learning Coalition provides administration and oversight of the local, integrated system of early education for preschool age children in Sarasota County, ensuring quality childcare and early learning programs, family access to services, and positive outcomes for young children.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY: The Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County was originally incorporated in May 2000 as the School Readiness Coalition of Sarasota County, Inc., as a 501 c (3) non-profit organization.

Legislation outlines the responsibilities for Early Learning Coalitions across the state including oversight for the delivery of local early education services, establishes thresholds for spending categories, including an administrative cap of 5%, and determines the composition of its Board of Directors. Our local Coalition currently administers a program of almost $12 million of local, state and federal funds that are used to:

  • Facilitate and oversee a wide range of services to enhance the overall system of quality child care and preschool educational services for children in Sarasota County
  • Provide child care scholarships to local income-eligible families and appropriate developmental screenings for children
  • Administer the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program (VPK) for all eligible four year olds to increase the readiness of children to begin Kindergarten
  • Offer wide range of resources for parents, including educational materials on child development, early literacy, and support for parents being their child’s first teacher
  • Currently serve 4000 children and assist 230 early care and education providers annually

Both the School Readiness Act (s.411.01, F.S.) in 1999 and the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten legislation (s. 1002.52-1002.79, F.S.) in 2005 assign a number of specific responsibilities to Early Learning Coalitions to implement at the local level to improve the quality of local child care sites and support school readiness outcomes for all children. The Legislature recognized that effective school readiness programs increase children’s chances for success.

The Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County reports at the state level to the Office for Early Learning within the Agency for Workforce Innovation. An 18-21-member Board of Directors, whose membership is determined by the current legislation, governs the Coalition and ensures compliance with all applicable legislation and statutory requirements and a high quality of services. The Chair and two of the private sector business representatives are appointed by the Governor, other Board members are community leaders, educators, child care professionals, and local business representatives, all dedicated to ensuring that Sarasota’s young children are given the strong foundation they need to succeed in school.

ELC of Sarasota Board of Directors meets the third Wednesday of the month at 6:00pm at the Landings.
Call for more information.


Early Learning Coalition Of Sarasota County
1750 17th Street, Unit K-1
Sarasota, Florida  34234
(941) 954-4830

                                                       Copyright © 2003 Early Learning Coalition Of Sarasota County